The Prime Ministers Project (Posted On: Tuesday, March 09, 2010)

Opens in the new Collingwood Public Library. April 6th will see the opening of a photo/sonic installation at the new Town of Collingwood Public Library. The Prime Ministers’ Project is “social democracy meeting art”, says curator Harry Posner. Over the past year, with support from the Town of Collingwood and the Collingwood Public Library, Posner, a local business owner, has been collecting ‘talks to the nation’.

“What would you say if the ears of the nation were listening?” was the question he asked people in the Georgian Bay area. “I wanted people to feel that their voice counted for something, and feel empowered to speak out about what was important to them.”
After gathering dozens of responses, an adjudication committee chose 16 of the most compelling speeches. Visitors to the installation will be able to listen to the talks on MP3 players while viewing a gallery of artistically created photographs of the participants.

“I hope people will come away from this show with a renewed sense of what a real democracy of the people means”, says Posner. He is urging people to take the time to really listen to what their fellow citizens are saying as they move through the installation. “Now, more than ever, we need to listen to each other, and become creative participants in shaping the future.”

The Prime Ministers’ Project will be available for viewing in the Murray Clerkson Emerging Artists Room from April 1-30 at the new Town of Collingwood Public Library, 55 St. Marie St.